BRINGING CLEAN COOLING TO GUINEA-BISSAU
Agriculture is the cornerstone of Guinea-Bissau's economy, engaging 80% of the population. Women are crucial on farms but own only 24.4% of the land, limiting their economic gains. The sector is dominated by subsistence farming, with 88% of farmers being smallholders using traditional methods on plots under 2 hectares.
Despite a favourable climate, Guinea-Bissau's agricultural sector faces major challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, outdated farming techniques, and political instability. These issues lead to high food losses and low farmer incomes, especially in fruit and vegetable production, hindering smallholder productivity and growth. As a result, 70-80% of the population lives in poverty.
of the Guinea-Bissau’s population are farmers.
of the agricultural labour force in Guinea-Bissau are women.
of the agricultural labour force in Guinea-Bissau are smallholder farmers.
In Guinea-Bissau, inadequate storage and transportation cause over 30% post-harvest food losses, reducing food access and farmer incomes. With 95% of export earnings from cashews, the economy is vulnerable to market and climate risks. Diversifying into more fruits and vegetables is crucial for economic resilience and food security.
Improved post-harvest management makes horticulture more attractive, enhancing food security and profitability for farmers and traders, and fostering sustainable livelihoods. By focusing on infrastructure, market linkages, and productivity-enhancing initiatives, projects like Your VCCA can deliver high-quality produce to consumers.
of its export earnings are from cashews
Before helping set up solar-powered cold room(s) in Guinea-Bissau, Your VCCA is conducting a comprehensive feasibility and market assessment to ensure that the project delivers tangible benefits. This analysis dives deep into two key areas: understanding smallholder farmer needs for post-harvest management and exploring the potential for various cooling solutions.
By mapping the flow of crops from farm to market and identifying different user types (farmers, small traders, aggregators), the assessment will pinpoint the most strategic locations for setting up cooling units. Additionally, it will explore the feasibility of cost-effective, passive cooling solutions using readily available local resources. This combined approach allows for a customised solution, maximising project impact and empowering local communities to build a more sustainable agricultural future.
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